Learn to make this perfectly salted instant pot popcorn with avocado oil and maldon sea salt flakes. This is a perfect afternoon snack or a treat for family movie night!
Popcorn in our home was always pre-packaged and popped in the microwave until we decided to remove microwaves from our home. Reheating food in the toaster oven, on the stovetop, or in the oven was no problem, but boy did we miss popcorn! Enter perfectly popped Instant pot popcorn!
Not only is this popcorn much healthier but it tastes so much better! If only I had tried this sooner!?
This popcorn is delicious right out of the Instant Pot, but with the added avocado oil and the best tasting salt ever, in my opinion, it becomes irresistible.
Why avoid pre-packaged popcorn?
As with most processed, prepackaged foods there are many additives that are just not necessary.
Here is an ingredient label from a popular popcorn company:
Ingredients: Popping corn, palm oil, salt, less than 2% of: natural and artificial flavor, color added, TBHQ and citric acid (for freshness).
Most all microwave popcorn contains oils we prefer not to consume in our home. You can find the guideline we use for safe oils in our home here.
Natural flavors, artificial flavors, and added colors are also added to pre-packaged microwave popcorn. The term “natural flavors” is basically a way for a company to hide between 50-100 “mystery” ingredients in their food products to alter the flavor. The FDA does not require these ingredients to be listed out and accepts them under the phrase “natural flavors.”
Natural flavors in foods products can contribute to chronic headaches, learning disabilities, depression, stomach issues, and much more. (source) We find it best to avoid this ingredient label as much as possible.
Citric acid as also avoided in our home. It a chemically processed from of vitamin C that our bodies do not easily absorb or recognize. You can read more about it in this blog post.
Is popcorn Healthy?
Popcorn can be a wonderfully healthy snack if prepared properly. As previously mentioned, most pre-packaged popcorn contains harmful oils as well as processed “butter-like flavorings” that are not the healthiest options.
Making your own popcorn at home gives you the option to control the ingredients used and the quality of those ingredients. This makes for much healthier, better tasting popcorn.
Why use MALDON sea salt flakes?
So, technically you could use any type of salt you wanted. I have made this popcorn with these various salts: celtic, himalayan pink salt, and redmond’s real salt, but I promise you I have not made a better popcorn than the batches I seasoned with maldon sea salt flakes!
Salt is essential to life, well the right kind of salts that is. Maldon salt has the perfect balance of minerals and adds a rich flavor to anything you decide to use it on!
Trust me, and go buy this salt! My mom commented on the difference this salt makes when I had her try my Instant Pot popcorn! You may even consider buying this larger size, because it is so good!
We use this on everything in our home, not just popcorn!
Popcorn Oil choices
I actually cook my popcorn in coconut oil then season it with avocado oil. You can cook the popcorn in any oil that has a high smoke point.
You will be using the highest saute function on the Instant Pot which reaches a temperature of 350 degrees. So your oil will need to be able to withstand this temperature.
Some good choices are coconut oil, avocado oil, or even ghee.
Tips for making INstant Pot Popcorn
- Be sure to use an oil with a high smoke point of at least 350 degrees such as avocado oil, coconut oil. or ghee.
- Toss the kernels in the oil to evenly coat each kernel.
- Keep kernels in a single layer in the Instant Pot.
- You can use this glass lid made for the Instant Pot, or just a glass stock pot lid like I use.
- You can make this on the stove-top if you do not have an Instant Pot.
Tools you will need to Make Perfectly Salted Instant Pot Popcorn
- Instant Pot
- Instant Pot glass lid or any glass lid you already have
- Glass Bowl
- Measuring cups & spoons
Watch the Tutorial
Ingredients
1/2 cup popcorn kernels
3 TBSP coconut oil
1-2 TBSP Avocado Oil
1-2 tsp maldon sea salt flakes
How to make Perfectly salted instant pot POPCORN
- Turn the Instant Pot to the “Saute” function and click until it is on the “more” setting. This is the highest saute function.
- Let the Instant Pot heat up until it reads “Hot.”
- Add the coconut oil and let melt.
- Add the popcorn kernels, toss them to evenly coat in the oil, and spread in a single layer around the sides of the Instant Pot. –It is important to only make 1/2 cup of kernels at one time. I have tried to make more and was left with many unpopped kernels.
- Once you see kernels begin to pop, add a glass lid over the top so popcorn stays contained.
- Allow the kernels to continue to pop until you hear them slow down. (About 10-15 seconds between pops)
- Turn off the Instant Pot and remove the liner so the popcorn does not burn.
- Add the popcorn to a bowl and toss with avocado oil and maldon sea salt flakes. I add all this to a bowl, cover with the glass lid used on the Instant Pot, and shake until combined.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container up to 3 days. (Maybe longer but mine never lasts that long)
Additional popcorn toppings
- Freshly grated parmesan cheese
- Garlic Powder
- Melted Grass Fed Butter
- Ranch flavoring: mix together garlic powder, dill, onion powder, pepper, and salt.
- Nutritional Yeast
- Cinnamon or Pumpkin Spice
Print the recipe
Perfectly Salted Instant Pot Popcorn
Equipment
- Instant Pot
- Glass Lid
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup popcorn kernels
- 3 TBSP coconut oil
- 1-2 TBSP avocado oil
- 1-2 tsp Maldon sea salt flakes
Instructions
- Turn the Instant Pot to the “Saute” function and click to the “more” setting.
- Let the Instant Pot heat up until it reads “Hot.”
- Add the coconut oil and let melt.
- Add the popcorn kernels, toss them to evenly coat in the oil, and spread in a single layer around the sides of the Instant Pot.
- Once you see kernels begin to pop, add a glass lid.
- Allow the kernels to continue to pop until you hear them slow down. (About 10-15 seconds between pops)
- Turn off the Instant Pot and remove the liner so the popcorn does not burn.
- Add the popcorn to a bowl and toss with avocado oil and Maldon sea salt flakes. Shake until combined.
- Serve immediately or store in an airtight container up to 3 days.
Notes
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